Sources in the news

Tiffen, R; Jones, PK; Rowe, D; Aalberg, T; Coen, S; Curran, J; Hayashi, K; Iyengar, S; Mazzoleni, G; Papathanassopoulos, S; Rojas, H; Soroka, S

Abstract

In analysing the news media's role in serving the functions associated with democratic citizenship, the number, diversity and range of news sources are central. Research conducted on sources has overwhelmingly focused on individual national systems. However, studying variations in news source patterns across national environments enhances understanding of the media's role. This article is based on a larger project, “Media System, Political Context and Informed Citizenship: A Comparative Study”, involving 11 countries. It seeks, first, to identify differences between countries in the sources quoted in the news; second, to establish whether there are consistent differences across countries between types of media in their sourcing patterns; and, third, to trace any emergent consistent patterns of variation between different types of organization across different countries. A range of findings related to news media source practices is discussed that highlights variations and patterns across different media and countries, thereby questioning common generalizations about the use of sources by newspapers and public service broadcasters. Finally, a case is made for comparative media research that helps enhance the news media's key role as a social institution dedicated to informed citizenship.

Citation

Tiffen, R., Jones, P., Rowe, D., Aalberg, T., Coen, S., Curran, J., …Soroka, S. (2014). Sources in the news. Journalism Studies, 15(4), 374-391. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2013.831239

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Sep 12, 2013
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Nov 30, 2015
• Journal: Journalism Studies
• Print ISSN: 1461-670X
• Publisher: Routledge
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 374-391
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2013.831239
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2013.831239
• Related Public URLs: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rjos20#.VlxDqK0nzcs